The Beach

Rating:
Summary: A touching, in depth performance by Leonardo!
Review: Contrary to the cynical reviews, I was profoundly impressed with the interpretation of the book and the performance of Leonardo de Caprio. Daffy enacted the perfect interpretation of an ostracised 'tribe member'. The treatment of cult consciousness was right on the mark and Leonardo's emotional range moved me to tears. Why don't reviewers get it? I'm over 50 so I know it's not about being old. I believe they are afraid to enter the reality on the screen, for fear of losing 'objectivity'. What we lose then is the opportunity to be alerted to a film that asks tough questions about society and how it handles people who don't 'fit in'. The fact is, the Beach is everywhere, and we all have to decide which character we will play, and if we have the guts to do the right thing.

Rating:
Summary: Don't try to compare the movie to the book
Review: Some things that are easily written in text form aren't quiteas easy to capture with a camera. I have read the book and seen themovie and can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed both. Each had elements that the other was lacking, making each unique in its own way. I am sure everyone is saddened by the exclusion of Jed, but doesn't it seem more realistic that Richard would go mad when stuck on lookout by himself? And did anybody really want to see the food poisoning scene? If you have not had a chance to experience either version, I highly recommend both. Go to see the movie if only to catch a glimpse of that beautiful French actress Virginie Ledoyen, who I hope will grace us with more American movies in the future.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie
Review: I went and saw the movie, then read the book and bought the soundtrack (fantasic by the way). After reading the book I then went and saw the movie again, because I found it helped with the understanding of the movie better. Okay there were a few differences in the movie and the book but I believe Leonardo Di Caprio played an outstanding role and this type of movie is more his genre than Titanic (as good as that was). Robert Caryle was brilliant as usual and the only reason why I believe this movie got such bad reviews is because all the critics were too old to appreciate it. The scenery was fantastic and even with the differences in the story I loved the movie and would go and see it again. I found it an intense story that swept me away. The cast and Danny Boyle's vision captured the spirit of the book in a way that may be different to how some people saw the book, but then again you can't please everyone. Well done Leo!

Rating:
Summary: The Beach
Review: Starts out a awesome story of personal discovery and adventure. The scenery is gorgeous and breathtaking. DiCaprio does an amazing job as does the rest of the cast. The Problem...the problem is that the story is weak and shallow. Too many scenes come off as pointless because there are many times that the story goes into an interesting side note then stops halfway through never reaching any resolution. Wait for the 2 dollar cinema.

Rating:
Summary: Based on what book?
Review: First off, I absolutely loved the novel. Amazingly fresh and intelligent. The movie -- cut a main character out, put in ridiculous and unneeded sex scenes, and basically destroyed all the major conflict of the novel. As a movie, it was pretty, little else. As a movie based on a book -- whoa what book did the screenwriter read? Not one scene was the same in both book/film and the movie makes little sense of certain subplots. Read the book -- watch The Beach on cable

Rating:
Summary: A mixed reaction
Review: I saw the movie first and then read the book. Had I done the opposite, I think that I would have found the movie somewhat disappointing. However, critics must come to realize that the movie was not only a representation of the book, but also a movie. What I mean is that in order to be a good film, it must not adhere to every detail of the book. Its goal is to please everybody, not only those who have read Alex Garland's novel. So, ask a movie it was great, as an embodiment of the book, it lacked some major details but stuck to the main plot. Maybe they should have let the author write the script as in 'Cider House Rules'.

Rating:
Summary: What a mess!
Review: After reading the book, which I thought was interesting because I too had followed the same travel path as the characters, I was truely intrigued by what the film would be like. The book, I felt, would be a hard translation to a film. Sadly they took a B- minus book and made an F film. With so much of the story actually taking place in Richard's (leo's) head what is left as visuals is disjointed, lacking connections and ultimimately just disappointing. It becomes a silly story of a bunch of neo-hippies who's desire for paradise comes with a cost - PLEASE! This film ends up reading like a late ninteties rant of the poor little whinny beautiful first world rich kids. The lack of depth to the characters comes accross in the abrupt changes that the story takes. Richard is a fun guy on vacation, Richard is a liar, Richard is crazy, Richard is a commando! The question is why? There is nothing unique about who Richard is, so why the fantastic changes; it can't all be because he sits on a beach and smokes pot all day? The scenery is beautiful and the acting is strong but this can not save the story or the film. There are many changes between the book and film as is neccessary to adapt to the change of mediums, however, the changes in this case where for the detriment of the story. And the end? If you do go to see this movie, enjoy what you can but do not hold your breathe for the ending; in a word - LAME.-

Rating:
Summary: Sab
Review: I thought that this movie was excellent. It was totally unexpexted and has a mixture of happy and sad emotions. All the actors in it are brilliant, especially leonardo di caprio who carries the role of 'Richard' very well.

Rating:
Summary: The Beach is PERFECT!
Review: The Beach was better then I ever expected it to be, and to begin with I expected it to be good. The shots of Thialand were beautiful and the movie was incredibly well done. Leonardo DiCaprio plays an adventurous man named Richard who seeks something totally different, away from the influence of America, a culture that has not yet been lost. When he travels to the far-off Thialand he finds a different culture but realizes it's still the same. He's left home to stay in a hotel and be safe. When he finds out about a supposed urban ledgend where there is a perfect and untouched beach, he seeks to find this. I enjoyed this movie because it explored the dark depths of the human character. It reminded me and others I have talked to that have seen it of 'Lord of the Flies' because of the darker parts in the movie. I would reccomend this movie to anyone who thinks they can stomach several rather off-beat or disturbing ideas and scenes because the message the movie gets across is wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: The Beach
Review: The latest film from the Shallow Grave / Trainspotting team, The Beach stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an inquisitive traveller who discovers what appears to be a paradise. This is an enjoyable, intelligent film, although the pacing is sometimes a bit irregular, and two awful edits between scenes were unbelieveable for such a big budget film (I wonder if that was a fault at the showing I saw only). The acting was good: Robert Carlyle excelled as the deranged Daffy, and DiCaprio was fine. The locations were beautiful, and yes, Leo looked great (so I'm told), with plenty of 'star-gazing' opportunities. Altogether, a good film which is much better than many expectations, if not a masterpiece.

7 out of 10.